Transportable container

Abstract

In an embodiment, a transportable container may include a container portion with an opening into an interior space; a lid for closing the opening; a handle for carrying the container; and a pivotable side latch, pivotally connected to the lid, moveable between a retaining position and a storage position. The pivotable side latch may be configured to engage a retaining structure of another container when the pivotable side latch is in the retaining position. The pivotable side latch may be configured to be in a depression of the lid when the pivotable side latch is in the storage position. With the container in an upright position, the pivotable side latch may move toward the depression when the pivotable side latch is released from the retaining position. The container portion may include a retaining structure with an upward-projecting lip configured to engage a pivotable side latch of a further container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transportable container constructed and arranged to be connected to other containers, the transportable container being movable between locations, the transportable container comprising:
 a container portion with an opening into an interior space in which articles to be transported can be stored; 
 a lid for closing the opening; 
 a front latch for securing the lid to the container portion; 
 a handle for carrying the transportable container; and 
 a pivotable side latch, pivotally connected to the lid, that is moveable between a retaining position and a storage position, 
 wherein the pivotable side latch is configured to engage a retaining structure of another container when the pivotable side latch is in the retaining position, 
 wherein the lid comprises a depression, and the pivotable side latch is configured to be in the depression when the pivotable side latch is in the storage position, 
 wherein, with the transportable container in an upright position, the pivotable side latch is configured to move toward the depression when the pivotable side latch is released from the retaining position and when the pivotable side latch is not in contact with the other container, and 
 wherein the container portion comprises a retaining structure with an upward-projecting lip that is configured to engage a pivotable latch of a further container to facilitate securement of the transportable container with the further container. 
 
     
     
       2. The transportable container of  claim 1 , wherein movement of the pivotable side latch toward the depression is caused by a force applied to the pivotable side latch. 
     
     
       3. The transportable container of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotable side latch, when in the storage position, is configured to be in the depression without latching the lid to the container portion of the transportable container. 
     
     
       4. The transportable container of  claim 1 , wherein the front latch is a first front latch for securing the lid to the container portion,
 wherein the transportable container further comprises a second front latch for securing the lid to the container portion, and 
 wherein the handle of the transportable container is between the first front latch and the second front latch such that a portion of the handle is horizontally aligned with the first front latch and the second front latch when the first front latch and the second front latch are securing the lid to the container portion, and the handle is configured such that, when the transportable container is secured to the other container via the engagement of the pivotable side latch with the retaining structure of the other container, the handle is vertically aligned with a handle of the other container. 
 
     
     
       5. The transportable container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivotally connected to a rear side of the container portion of the transportable container. 
     
     
       6. The transportable container of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotable side latch of the transportable container is a first pivotable side latch, the retaining structure of the transportable container is a first retaining structure, and the depression of the lid is a first depression,
 wherein the transportable container further comprises: (i) a second pivotable side latch, pivotally connected to the lid, that is moveable between a second retaining position and a second storage position; and (ii) a second retaining structure with an upward-projecting lip that is configured to engage a second pivotable latch of the further container to facilitate securement of the transportable container with the further container, 
 wherein the second pivotable side latch is configured to engage a second retaining structure of the other container when the second pivotable side latch is in the second retaining position, and 
 wherein the second pivotable side latch is further configured to be in a second depression of the lid when the second pivotable side latch is in the second storage position. 
 
     
     
       7. The transportable container of  claim 6 , wherein the first pivotable side latch of the transportable container and the second pivotable side latch of the transportable container are located on opposite sides of the transportable container. 
     
     
       8. The transportable container of  claim 6 , wherein the first retaining structure of the transportable container and the second retaining structure of the transportable container are located on opposite sides of the transportable container. 
     
     
       9. The transportable container of  claim 6 , wherein the first depression of the lid and the second depression of the lid are located on opposite sides of the lid. 
     
     
       10. The transportable container of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotable side latch comprises:
 a first segment pivotally connected to the lid; and 
 a second segment, protruding outwardly from the first segment, that is configured to engage the retaining structure of the other container when the pivotable side latch of the transportable container is engaged with the retaining structure of the other container. 
 
     
     
       11. The transportable container of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotable side latch is configured to pivot outwardly away from the transportable container and out of the depression when moving from the storage position to the retaining position. 
     
     
       12. A transportable container constructed and arranged to be connected to other containers, the transportable container being movable between locations, the transportable container comprising:
 a container portion with an opening into an interior space in which articles to be transported can be stored; 
 a lid for closing the opening, wherein the lid is pivotally connected to a rear side of the container portion of the transportable container; 
 front latches for securing the lid to the container portion, the front latches being on an opposite side of the container portion relative to the rear side; 
 a handle between the front latches such that a portion of the handle is horizontally aligned with the front latches when the front latches are securing the lid to the container portion; and 
 a pivotable side latch, pivotally connected to the lid, that is moveable between a retaining position and a storage position, 
 wherein the pivotable side latch is configured to engage a retaining structure of another container when the pivotable side latch is in the retaining position, 
 wherein the lid comprises a depression, and the pivotable side latch is configured to be in the depression when the pivotable side latch is in the storage position, 
 wherein the container portion comprises a retaining structure with an upward-projecting lip that is configured to engage a pivotable latch of a further container to facilitate securement of the transportable container with the further container, and 
 wherein the handle of the transportable container is configured such that, when the transportable container is secured to the other container via the engagement of the pivotable side latch with the retaining structure of the other container, the handle of the transportable container is vertically aligned with a handle of the other container. 
 
     
     
       13. The transportable container of  claim 12 , wherein, with the transportable container in an upright position, the pivotable side latch is configured to move toward the depression when the pivotable side latch is released from the retaining position and when the pivotable side latch is not in contact with the other container. 
     
     
       14. The transportable container of  claim 13 , wherein movement of the pivotable side latch toward the depression is caused by a force applied to the pivotable side latch. 
     
     
       15. The transportable container of  claim 12 , wherein the pivotable side latch, when in the storage position, is configured to be in the depression without latching the lid to the container portion of the transportable container. 
     
     
       16. The transportable container of  claim 12 , wherein the pivotable side latch comprises:
 a first segment pivotally connected to the lid; and 
 a second segment, protruding outwardly from the first segment, that is configured to engage the retaining structure of the other container when the pivotable side latch of the transportable container is engaged with the retaining structure of the other container. 
 
     
     
       17. The transportable container of  claim 12 , wherein the handle of the transportable container is entirely between at least two of the front latches with respect to a horizontal axis on which the handle of the transportable container and the two front latches lie when the two front latches are securing the lid to the container portion. 
     
     
       18. A transportable container constructed and arranged to be connected to other containers, the transportable container being movable between locations, the transportable container comprising:
 a container portion with an opening into an interior space in which articles to be transported can be stored; 
 a lid for closing the opening, wherein the lid is pivotally connected to a rear side of the container portion of the transportable container; 
 a front latch for securing the lid to the container portion; 
 a handle for carrying the transportable container; and 
 a pivotable side latch, pivotally connected to the lid, configured to be moveable between a retaining position and a storage position and to pivot outwardly away from the transportable container when moving from the storage position to the retaining position, 
 wherein the pivotable side latch is configured to engage a retaining structure of another container when the pivotable side latch is in the retaining position, 
 wherein the pivotable side latch does not latch the lid to the container portion of the transportable container when the pivotable side latch is in the storage position, 
 wherein the lid comprises a depression, and the pivotable side latch is further configured to be in the depression when the pivotable side latch is in the storage position, 
 wherein, with the transportable container in an upright position, the pivotable side latch is configured to move toward the depression when the pivotable side latch is released from the retaining position and when the pivotable side latch is not in contact with the retaining structure of the other container, and 
 wherein the container portion comprises a retaining structure configured to engage a pivotable latch of a further container to facilitate securement of the transportable container with the further container.